Pathway Association Studies Reveal Gene Loci and Pathway Networks that Associated With Plasma Cystatin C Levels.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Jiao H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8656399 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Sole ulcers (SU) and white line disease (WLD) are noninfectious claw lesions that arise due to compromised horn production and are common causes of lameness in dairy cattle, imposing welfare and profitability concerns. The low to moderate heritability estimates of SU and WLD susceptibility indicate that genetic selection could reduce their prevalence. To identify loci associated with SU and WLD susceptibility, generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) regression and random forest (RF) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed. Cows from five commercial dairies in California were classified as sound controls having no instances of lameness and above six years of age (n = 102) or cases having SU (n = 152), WLD (n = 117), SU and/or WLD (SU+WLD, n = 198), or any type of noninfectious claw lesion (n = 217). Top SNPs were defined as those passing Bonferroni-corrected suggestive and significance thresholds in the GLMM analysis or those that a validated RF model considered important. Effects of top SNPs were quantified using Bayesian estimation. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks defined by top SNPs were explored for candidate genes and previously identified, functionally relevant quantitative trait loci. The GLMM GWAS revealed regions of association on BTA8 for SU and BTA13 common to WLD, SU+WLD, and noninfectious claw lesions. Bayesian estimation of effect sizes indicated that these SNPs had effects significantly different from zero, indicating their small but notable contribution to susceptibility. Promising candidate genes identified in these regions were involved in wound healing, skin lesions, bone growth and mineralization, adipose tissue, and keratinization. The LD block defined by the most significant SNP on BTA8 for SU included a SNP previously reported to be associated with SU. The RF models were overfitted, indicating that SNP effects were very small and thereby preventing meaningful interpretation of SNPs with the highest importance values and downstream analyses. These findings suggested that variants associated with a variety of physiological systems may contribute to susceptibility for noninfectious claw lesions, demonstrating the complexity of genetic predisposition.
2021-07-23 | GSE165945 | GEO
Project description:Association testing of multiple correlated phenotypes offers better power than univariate analysis of single traits. We analyzed 6,600 individuals from two population-based cohorts with both genome-wide SNP data and serum metabolomic profiles. From the observed correlation structure of 130 metabolites measured by nuclear magnetic resonance, we identified 11 metabolic networks and performed a multivariate genome-wide association analysis. We identified 34 genomic loci at genome-wide significance, of which 7 are novel. In comparison to univariate tests, multivariate association analysis identified nearly twice as many significant associations in total. Multi-tissue gene expression studies identified variants in our top loci, SERPINA1 and AQP9, as eQTLs and showed that SERPINA1 and AQP9 expression in human blood was associated with metabolites from their corresponding metabolic networks. Finally, liver expression of AQP9 was associated with atherosclerotic lesion area in mice, and in human arterial tissue both SERPINA1 and AQP9 were shown to be upregulated (6.3-fold and 4.6-fold, respectively) in atherosclerotic plaques. Our study illustrates the power of multi-phenotype GWAS and highlights candidate genes for atherosclerosis.
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Project description:BACKGROUND:Plasma neurofilament light (NFL) is a promising biomarker for Alzheimer disease (AD), which increases in the early stage of AD and is associated with the progression of AD. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of plasma NFL in Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 1 (ADNI-1) cohort to identify novel variants associated with AD. METHODS:This study included 179 cognitively healthy controls (HC), 176 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 172 patients with AD. All subjects were restricted to non-Hispanic Caucasian derived from the ADNI cohort and met all quality control (QC) criteria. Association of plasma NFL with the genetic variants was assessed using PLINK with an additive genetic model, i.e.dose-dependent effect of the minor alleles. The influence of a genetic variant associated with plasma NFL (rs7943454) on brain structure was further assessed using PLINK with a linear regression model. RESULTS:The minor allele (T) of rs7943454 in leucine zipper protein 2 gene (LUZP2) was associated with higher plasma NFL at suggestive levels (P?=?1.39?×?10-?6) in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, the minor allele (G) of rs640476 near GABRB2 was associated with lower plasma NFL at suggestive levels (P?=?6.71?×?10-?6) in a dose-dependent effect in all diagnostic groups except the MCI group. Furthermore, the minor allele (T) of rs7943454 within LUZP2 increased the onset risk of AD (odds ratio?=?1.547, confidence interval 95%?=?1.018-2.351) and was associated with atrophy of right middle temporal gyrus in the whole cohort in the longitudinal study (P?=?0.0234). CONCLUSION:GWAS found the associations of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7943454 and rs640476) with plasma NFL at suggestive levels. Rs7943454 in LUZP2 was associated with the onset risk of AD and atrophy of right middle temporal gyrusin the whole cohort. Using an endophenotype-based approach, we identified rs7943454 as a new AD risk locus.
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Project description:Background: Several studies have shown that non-renal factors such as corticosteroids may increase plasma cystatin C levels without affecting kidney function. However, the mechanisms underlying this are unclear. We hypothesized that corticosteroids may increase cystatin C levels in the plasma by promoting its production in tissues. In the present study, we aimed to test our hypothesis in rats by investigating the effect of corticosteroids on cystatin C production in tissues and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as measured by the gold standard method (i.e., inulin clearance). Results: Dexamethasone treatment was associated with much higher concentrations of cystatin C in all organ tissue homogenates tested. Dexamethasone increased plasma cystatin C levels in rats, without any decrease in renal inulin clearance. The impact of dexamethasone on plasma and organ tissue cystatin C levels was abolished by RU486, indicating the effect was glucocorticoid receptor-mediated. Conclusions: Our study provides direct evidence that corticosteroids may increase cystatin C levels in the plasma by promoting its production, without any decrease in GFR.
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Project description:Digital dermatitis (DD) causes lameness in dairy cattle. To detect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with DD, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes and binary case/control, quantitative (average number of FW per hoof trimming record) and recurrent (cases with ≥2 DD episodes vs. controls) phenotypes from cows across four dairies (controls n = 129 vs. FW n = 85). Linear mixed model (LMM) and random forest (RF) approaches identified the top SNPs, which were used as predictors in Bayesian regression models to assess the SNP predictive value. The LMM and RF analyses identified QTL regions containing candidate genes on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 2 for the binary and recurrent phenotypes and BTA7 and 20 for the quantitative phenotype that related to epidermal integrity, immune function, and wound healing. Although larger sample sizes are necessary to reaffirm these small effect loci amidst a strong environmental effect, the sample cohort used in this study was sufficient for estimating SNP effects with a high predictive value.
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